Sharp-shooting Miller enjoys Jolly good time as Tranent are undone

IT'S not the last time the two clubs will cross swords this season, but The Jolly and Tranent are unlikely to provide as entertaining a contest as that which saw the former progress to the latter stages of the Foster's Scottish Sunday Amateur Cup at Liberton.

The Jolly ran out 3-1 winners thanks largely to the sharpshooting of striker David Miller in a drama-filled fifth-round tie between two clubs vying for supremacy in the Lothian and Edinburgh Amateur Football Association's Lothian East (Sunday) division.

Tranent's Robert Branley rued a missed penalty early in the first half, and although The Jolly opened the scoring shortly after the half-hour, the sides went into half-time on level pegging thanks to an equaliser shortly before the interval.

Miller's rampant form, though, shone through in the second-half and climaxed with two sublime goals either side of the hour mark to dump the East Lothian side out of the national tournament.

The keenly-anticipated fixture, originally scheduled for Tranent's Forrester Park, has suffered three postponements since New Year and under league rules was moved to Jolly territory, shifting vital home advantage the way of the Edinburgh side.

It was in the unfamiliar surroundings of Liberton High School then that Tranent's Branley swept an 11th-minute spot-kick wide of the post after a trip by Jolly defender Ryan Campbell in the penalty area.

Jolly capitalised on their fortune, assuming the lead on 33 minutes as Chris Monteith netted from just inside the box.

Branley's fellow striker, John Brash, restored parity shortly before the break, converting a corner with a header from six yards out.

Jolly's Raymond Shanks had his arms raised in celebration, with the majority of spectators on his side's touchline mimicking his action, early in the second-half after a "surefire" strike on goal, but his effort trundled by the wrong side of the right-hand post.

But Shanks's teammate Danny Donoghue went one better from a similar striking position on 60 minutes. After working hard to beat Craig Malcolm in midfield and power forward with only goalkeeper Murray Shepard to beat, Donoghue's low strike nestled in the right-hand corner of the net to spark rapture among the expectant home support.

The same crowd were in ecstasy seconds later, with Miller serving up a glorious goal, belting the ball with such force from 20 yards out that keeper Shepard, had he been able to reach his top right-hand corner, would probably have been well advised to stay out the way.

Miller then struck the crossbar with an audacious chip from wide on the right and then flicked the ball over the head of defender Steven Branley – la Paul Gascoigne against Scotland's Colin Hendry during Euro '96 – only to watch his subsequent half-volley hit the outer side-netting.

Tranent striker Branley then almost atoned for his earlier penalty miss, but his low, placed shot was well tipped round the post by Jolly goalkeeper John Thornton as the hosts held out for a 3-1 win.

Thornton, 27, who also acts as secretary for his club, maintains his side's target for the season was to win some local silverware.

"The next round of the Scottish is going to be a hard one," he said. "We've got either Lochee or an Ayrshire team, and I've heard both teams are very good.

"We're unbeaten so far this season and have played a couple of games less than Tranent. The aim is to win the league and the main cups in our league – the Scottish is just a bonus."

The two sides will meet again in the quarter-final of the President's Cup if Tranent can overcome Davidson's Mains in their second-round tie, while in the league, a frantic chase for the title looks on the cards.

Meanwhile, The Jolly have announced a kit sponsorship deal with the Post Office. Brand new strips are due to arrive next week, and the club will wear shirts emblazoned with the name of their new sponsors as the business end of the season approaches.

Tranent Ams: Murray Shepard, Steven Branley, Gary Wilson, Craig Scott, Gareth Gray, Graeme Mack, Michael O'Kane, Rory Cunningham, John Brash, Robert Branley, Craig Malcolm, Bill Kerr, Mark Shepard, Dale Martin, Johnny Black.

The Jolly: John Thornton, Don McGowan, Paul Murray, Raymond Shanks, Ryan Campbell, Jordan Robertson, Kevin Pacitti, Harry Turner, Robert Thorburn, David Miller, Chris Monteith, Derek Turner, Thomas Fraser, Robbie Hoggan, Danny Donoghue.